Catherine levered her legs over the side of the mattress and winced. “Just a minute.” She made her way to the receiving room, feeling very old.
The door opened to show the courtesan who had spoken to her earlier, the ebony-skinned woman. She held a stack of folded clothing in her hands.
Catherine stared at her. Her tastes didn’t extend to women but now that her head had cleared she saw how beautiful the courtesan was. There was an aura around her, a gentleness that settled Catherine’s upset stomach and calmed her jangled nerves.
The woman smiled. “May I come in?”
“Yes, yes. Of course.” Catherine waved her through the hatch.
“My name is Kendra. Kendra Champagne.” She didn’t extend her hand, continuing to hold the clothing. “I hope you’re feeling better. Sean is a talented medic.”
“Yes, he is.” Catherine sat down at the table. “Please sit down. You’ll have to forgive my poor manners. I’m a bit out of sorts.”
Kendra laughed, a low infectious sound that had Catherine smiling in response. “Totally understandable. You’ve had quite the day and it’s not even lunchtime yet.” She took the chair opposite Catherine and placed the clothing on the table. “Sean mentioned you wanted to clean up but didn’t have anything to wear. I brought this for you to start with. Don’t worry about returning them. Just dump them down the laundry chute. Jenny will wash them and send them back to me eventually.” She patted the pile. “I’ve got a pair of jeans in here along with a track suit and a few T-shirts. I wasn’t sure what size you wear, so please take what works for you or let me know if you need something else.” She nodded toward the door. “Bianca’s and April’s wardrobes are also available.”
Catherine pulled the stack closer. “Thank you. I’d love to take a shower and clean up but I’d feel grubby getting back into these rags.”
Kendra sat back and crossed her legs. “I expect you’re quite surprised to be here.” She gestured at the blank walls. “A Mercy ship and all.”
Catherine extracted a matching T-shirt and track pants, both dark grey. The jeans were lovely but she suspected they’d chafe her aggravated skin. “I’m grateful to be anywhere right now.”
Kendra caught her eye. “Do you have any questions? About us, about the ship?”
Catherine couldn’t figure out how to get out of the conversation without seeming rude. Instead she just stared at the courtesan.
“Don’t worry, I’ve heard them all.” Kendra chuckled. “I understand there’s a certain mythos about us and what we do, how these ships run. But if you’re going to be aboard the Bonnie Belle for any length of time you need to be comfortable being around the crew and I want to make sure all of your questions are answered before, and excuse my language, the shit hits the fan.” Her stare narrowed. “The captain’s got no time to be holding your hand if it starts getting rough and I fear it might reach that point sooner rather than later.”
Interesting.
“You’re the head woman around here.”
Kendra dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Very perceptive. I am.” She reminded Catherine of a coiled snake, surveying her possible prey. “I know you’ve got issues with our occupation but we’re going to have to work together to get through this. So—” She smiled. “Your questions?”
Catherine licked her lips. It reminded her of making a sales presentation where phrasing was everything. “I understand the need for Mercy ships. I’ve seen them on our tours of the extended repair facilities out on the edge.” She chose her words with care, watching for any changes in expression.
She had enough enemies out there. She didn’t need them in here as well.
Kendra nodded. “Then you understand our existence is necessary, almost vital for the continuation of your business endeavors. Without us and the Guild it’d be likely impossible to maintain such factories so far from the main planets and home for many of these men and women.”
“A necessary evil,” Catherine said and immediately regretted it, seeing the flash of anger in Kendra’s eyes. “To coin a phrase.”
“Yes. A phrase.” The courtesan brushed out an invisible wrinkle on her leg. “The Bonnie Belle is a good ship with a good captain and crew.”
Catherine paused, trying to find the right wording. Usually she was never at a loss for words but this was a different situation.
She’d never imagined herself on board a Mercy ship talking to a courtesan.
Ever.
“You seem like a lovely woman. How did you end up here?”
As soon as the words left her mouth she regretted them.
Kendra raised an eyebrow at the question. “We all join the Guild for our own reasons. Mine are my own.” She stood up. “I think you should shower and rest. You’re too tired to continue this discussion.” There was no maliciousness in her words, just a simple statement of fact.
Catherine recognized it for what it was—a way out of the mess she’d made of the conversation.
“Of course. Thank you for the clothing.” Catherine rose, as well. “And I apologize for my rough words earlier.” She chewed on her lower lip before continuing. “As you seem to know, I’ve had, well, let’s say a bad experience with the Guild. It tends to cloud my vision.”
“I understand.” Kendra’s voice was kind. She pulled her long blond braid over her shoulder and stroked it. “There are those who misuse our services and abuse those around them. I’m sorry you got hurt.”
“It wasn’t you. It wasn’t the Belle,” she sputtered, suddenly tongue-tied.
Kendra reached over and took Catherine’s hand, startling her with the simple touch. “You may not believe this but we’re also excellent listeners. Sometimes we just sit with a client, let the person pour out their troubles in a safe environment. If you ever want to vent we’re all here for you.”
At a price.
Kendra smiled. “We’re not all mercenaries. You’d be surprised how many of us are here for reasons other than money.” She released Catherine’s hand. “You should get into the shower and get cleaned up. The captain should be by soon with news and you’ll need to be awake and aware enough to deal with it.” She sniffed the air. “And not as stinky.”
Catherine couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Understood.”
The courtesan was at the door before Catherine could say more, flowing through the hatch with ease. “Please call if you need something. We’ll talk later on.”
“Thank you,” Catherine called as Kendra moved out of sight.
She’d never met a courtesan like her.
She’d never met a woman like her in all the boardrooms and business meetings she’d gone to.
What sort of Guild training made a woman like that?
* * *
Sean entered the cockpit, feeling his legs go light with the lack of gravity. The narrow corridor led to the single-seat where Sam sat, strapped in with a four-point harness. In front of the captain were spread out various panels and monitors, most of them displaying the closed-circuit cameras spread through the Belle. The landing bay, the cockpit and a few outside views of the ship’s hull.
No images of the living quarters. It was against Guild rules, created to help their clients maintain total confidentiality.
If no one saw you enter, no one could know what you did or didn’t do.
Sam didn’t notice him at first, drumming out a snappy rhythm with her fingers on the armrest.
He wasn’t sure what it meant.
“You called?”
She stopped and swiveled around to face him. “Sorry for the zero gravity. Easier in here to float, you know?”
He nodded. “I hear you.”
“Not that I’m going to pass up on taking a full-gravity shower before Ms. Rogers leaves us, mind you.” She tapped the control panel. “I’ve been tal
king to Daniel and since you’ve been spending so much time with our new visitor I figured you might have some insight into our situation.”
Translation: Is Catherine Rogers going to be trouble?
He had no doubt Sam would protect Catherine to the best of her ability—and recent events had shown the captain had a lot of abilities when needed. But if Catherine was going to refuse orders or attempt to give them he knew Sam wouldn’t have any problem ordering her either sedated or locked into her suite.
Sean took hold of one of the leather straps to steady himself against the wall. “She’s settled into Halley’s old cabin and getting cleaned up. Kendra said she’d find something for her to wear.”
“Daniel confirms her story about being en route to testify as to substandard material being used in the ships. And he’s not buying there being an accident on her ship.” The captain looked out the viewport. “He wants us to change course and head for a Justice base. Needless to say, I’ve agreed and the Belle’s been rerouted.”
“What did Grendel say?” The Guild representative wouldn’t be happy with the Belle arriving late at their next stop, much less ferrying witnesses to Justice bases. He’d clashed a few times with Sam in the short time she’d been running the Belle and it didn’t seem like their business relationship would improve any time soon.
“He threw a fit. Until I pointed out we were already billing Ms. Rogers’s company for full gravity on the Belle and we were making money in transit, which never happens with a Mercy ship.” She smiled. “He saw my point of view.”
“But now more people know Catherine didn’t die in the accident.” Sean rubbed his chin. “That could be dangerous. Loose lips and so forth. I’m not just talking about Grendel and the Guild—I’ve no doubt that there’s a few holes and moles in the justice system. Whoever sabotaged the ship knew where Catherine was traveling and how to get to her.”
Sam nodded toward the cockpit window. “Daniel’s already on an interception course. As soon as he gets here he’ll take Ms. Rogers off our hands and speed to the nearest Justice base.”
“And for the rest of the time we’re running alone?”
Her lips twisted into a snarl. “We’re a sitting duck.” She spat out the last two words. “But we’ve got time on our side. Whoever tried to kill her might find out too late to send reinforcements to complete the job.”
“Might,” Sean repeated, a hollow feeling erupting in the pit of his stomach. “But if they’re willing to kill and destroy an executive ship they won’t hesitate to do the same to a Mercy ship.” He had to finish his thought no matter how it might upset Sam. “Maybe even a UNS ship.”
“Might. But won’t.” Sam ran her hand along the control panel. “I’ve already got Jenny brainstorming on how to defend the Belle. The Guild can go to hell if they think I’m not going to do my best to keep us all alive until we meet up with Daniel.”
Sean couldn’t resist smirking, given the situation. “I have total confidence in your ability to make it work, Captain.”
She scowled at him. “Don’t piss in my tea and tell me it’s lemon-flavored, Sean. I’ve got to brief the crew on what’s happening. They all deserve to know the full story and what we’re in for. I’d like to include Ms. Rogers in the discussion but only if she’s healthy enough to participate. There’s going to be questions and I can’t answer them all.”
Sean licked his lips. “The burn treatment should help accelerate the healing and numb her skin. She didn’t suffer a concussion, so I don’t see any reason we can’t have another talk.” He couldn’t help smiling. “As you can imagine, her present clothing was pretty well done in, so I asked Kendra to find some clothing for Catherine to change into after she cleaned up. I expect by now she’s been traumatized enough between being pulled onto a Mercy ship and talking, not only to a Mercy man, but also a Mercy woman of Kendra’s caliber.”
Sam chuckled. “Understood. Why don’t you drop in and see how she’s doing. Make her comfortable, get her a cup of tea and call me when you feel she’s up to participating in our little chat. I don’t want her complaining she got left out of any discussion.” The next words came out almost as an aside. “Besides she seems to like you.”
“What?” The single word traveled several octaves. “But you’re the captain. She should be dealing with you directly, not me.”
Sam shook her head. “You’re the first face she saw when she came onto the Belle and you’re the one helping her cope. I’m not going to try and break that relationship up.” She tapped her chest, pressing on the well-worn olive material. “You told me when I signed on it took a special person to be a Mercy man or woman, to connect with the client and make him or her comfortable. You’re doing a great job and I’m getting out of the way.”
Sean opened his mouth to protest, say something to the contrary, but Sam pointed past him at the hatch with her own wide smirk.
Never let it be said Sam Keller couldn’t give as good as she got.
* * *
Catherine spun around in the narrow shower stall, wincing as the water splattered against her burned skin. The cream had taken away most of the pain but the afflicted areas now felt tight, as if the scorched skin was one size too small. She’d need another application once she got out of the shower.
She flinched as she studied the burns. She had never been a come-hither beauty but she wasn’t going to carry scars for the rest of her life if she could help it.
Catherine rolled her shoulders and cursed up a storm, using words she’d almost forgotten over time. It felt like a steel bar had been slipped under her skin and stretched across her back. Even the wet heat from the shower couldn’t break it down.
The smell of smoke had disappeared and she finally felt clean although it’d taken most of the small bottle of shower gel.
Before getting into the shower she’d spent a few minutes in front of the full-length mirror taking stock of her injuries. The edges of her short blonde hair were frizzled and burnt. She’d need a stylist to make it look presentable again but it’d grow back in time and no one would notice the loss.
Unlike the men and women she’d left behind to die.
Catherine drew in a breath, half water and half air, and began choking. All those good men and women who had no idea why they’d been sacrificed, all of those families with a hole in their lives due to some monster deciding they all had to die for the sake of a few credits.
Andy. Corinne. All those nameless crew members whose only sin was being assigned to her ship.
She sank to her knees and sobbed, her chest aching with the effort.
She cried for them and she cried for herself, for being so stupid as to think there wouldn’t be any danger involved in exposing such corruption.
“Catherine? Catherine?” A familiar voice cut through the darkness clouding her mind. “Are you okay?”
She gasped as she recognized Sean’s voice.
Inside her suite.
Inside her bathroom.
A blast of cool air washed over her. Catherine looked up to see the shower door open and Sean standing there.
Her mouth fell open as she realized her situation. She moved her hands back and forth over her naked body, unsure what to cover and how to get the maximum effect. She splayed her fingers out to cover more skin but it seemed to be more comical than practical.
He looked like the kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
She scowled at him as she crouched in the corner of the shower stall. “Don’t you know how to knock?” The sorrow of a few minutes ago flashed into flame.
“I did knock.” He turned his back on her and studied the wall. “I knocked and Belle told me you were in the shower. I came in and sat in the receiving room until I heard you crying. I was worried you were in pain.”
Her anger abated slightly as she realized the truth
in his words.
“I see,” she answered, unsure of how to extract herself from this situation.
“How is it?” Sean asked. “The pain, I mean.”
“Tolerable.” She turned off the water and stood up. “That cream did a good job.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Sean plucked the large white towel off the edge of the sink. “Why don’t you dry off while I get rid of your clothing?”
He reached behind him with one arm, his eyes still averted.
“Thank you.” Catherine took the towel and closed the shower stall door. She began drying herself off, relishing the clean feeling.
Outside she heard Sean humming some sort of folksy tune as he walked around the bathroom. A metallic sound signaled a drawer’s closing and a whoosh as it emptied, most likely her rags going to the ship’s incinerator.
“I’ve got the fresh clothing here, sitting by the sink. When you’re dressed we’ll go to my quarters, get a cuppa tea going.”
She worked on her legs, carefully patting the pink skin dry. “Tea?”
“I’d offer you something stronger but you’re dealing with a lot right now and I doubt it’d be quite what you need. We’ve got things to talk about and you’ll want to be sober.” He gave an appreciative hum. “These clothes are soft and loose. I knew Kendra would have something appropriate. When you’re ready I’ll put more cream on those burns.” She heard him exit the bathroom. “Or you can put it on yourself. Let me know what you decide. I’ll be out here.”
Her skin burned from the gentle friction of the towel. She came out of the stall and stood in front of the mirror, surveying her injuries.
A tentative reach with her right arm confirmed her thoughts. There was no way she could apply the healing cream to all the areas that needed it on her own. Her muscles had knotted up something awful and despite the hot shower she was nowhere near as flexible as before.
Like it or not, she needed him.
“I need your help, please.” Catherine wrapped the towel around herself as she picked up the outfit and walked into the bedroom. “I can’t do it on my own.”
In the Void Page 5